Franchise financing
Goldfish Swim School franchise financing
What it costs to finance a Goldfish Swim School franchise and how buyers fund it. The real numbers: how much gets borrowed, which lenders fund it, and the track record.
By Mario Bailey · Source: SBA FOIA data, as of 2026-03-31
- SBA loans
- 132
- Total funded
- $200.4M
- Median loan
- $1.5M
- 7(a) charge-off
- 0.0%
What financing a Goldfish Swim School franchise costs
The median SBA loan to a Goldfish Swim School franchisee is $1.5M, and the middle half of Goldfish Swim School's 132 loans run $966K to $2.0M (average $1.5M). Across all SBA-financed franchises the median loan is $350K. Goldfish Swim School buyers borrow more than the typical franchisee.
These are loan amounts, not the brand's total startup cost. Buyers also put in equity (the SBA generally wants at least 10% down on a new franchise), and the brand's own investment estimate is Item 7 of its franchise disclosure document (FDD). The median Goldfish Swim School loan runs about 11 years (126 months). Model your numbers with the franchise financing calculator.
Of the 122 Goldfish Swim School loans where the SBA recorded a business age, 91.8% went to new businesses two years old or younger. The rest funded existing operations.
How to finance Goldfish Swim School
Goldfish Swim School franchisees have financed with 132 SBA loans since FY2010, averaging $1.5M each. The 7(a) program is the usual route: it covers the franchise fee, build-out, equipment, and working capital (120 of the 132 loans). Lenders weigh your credit, management experience, and the brand's track record alongside the equity you bring.
Goldfish Swim School's 7(a) charge-off rate is 0.0% across 120 loans, a relative track-record signal lenders and buyers weigh, not a guarantee. See how that compares across franchises.
Lenders that finance Goldfish Swim School
By SBA loan count
Where Goldfish Swim School gets funded
Top states by loan count
- 1. Illinois 13
- 2. New Jersey 12
- 3. Ohio 13
- 4. Michigan 13
- 5. Texas 6
- 6. Pennsylvania 8
- 7. New York 6
- 8. Minnesota 4
Financing a Goldfish Swim School?
Get matched with the SBA lenders that actually fund businesses like yours, ranked on real loan data by state, industry, and size. Independent: your details go only to the lenders we match you to, never to data brokers.
Goldfish Swim School SBA financing FAQ
How much does a Goldfish Swim School franchise cost?
The public SBA data shows what buyers actually borrow, not a sticker price: the median SBA loan to a Goldfish Swim School franchisee is $1.5M, and the middle half of Goldfish Swim School's 132 loans run $966K to $2.0M. Total investment (including the equity you put in, generally 10% or more) is estimated in Item 7 of Goldfish Swim School's franchise disclosure document.
Can you use an SBA loan for Goldfish Swim School?
Yes. Lenders have funded 132 SBA loans to Goldfish Swim School franchisees, worth $200.4M in all, so Goldfish Swim School is regularly financed with SBA 7(a) and 504 loans.
Can a first-time owner get an SBA loan for Goldfish Swim School?
The data says yes: of Goldfish Swim School's 122 SBA loans that record a business age, 91.8% went to new businesses two years old or younger. Expect the lender to look harder at your experience, business plan, and equity injection.
Which lenders finance Goldfish Swim School?
By loan count, the most active SBA lenders for Goldfish Swim School are First Merchants Bank, Bank of Ann Arbor, KeyBank National Association, among others. A lender already active with your brand often moves faster.
What is Goldfish Swim School's SBA charge-off rate?
Across Goldfish Swim School's 120 SBA 7(a) loans, 0.0% have charged off. Read it as a relative track-record signal, not a prediction. It is not a lifetime default rate.
Which SBA program fits Goldfish Swim School?
Mostly 7(a): 120 of Goldfish Swim School's 132 SBA loans. The 7(a) program covers the franchise fee, build-out, equipment, and working capital. The median Goldfish Swim School loan term is about 11 years (126 months).